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Questions about the 1994 election
The dates, the winner, the turnout, and the small disagreements between sources. Each answer links, in spirit, to the longer page. Start with the results if you need the full table.
When was South Africa’s first democratic election?
Voting was scheduled for 26, 27 and 28 April 1994. It was extended through 29 April in parts of KwaZulu, the Transkei, the Ciskei, and the northern Transvaal homelands of Lebowa, Gazankulu and Venda, where ballot papers had arrived too late.
Why is 1994 called the first democratic election?
It was the first election in which adult South Africans of every race voted for a common parliament. Earlier elections were limited by race. The 1983 tricameral parliament added houses for Coloured and Indian voters and still excluded Black Africans.
Who won the 1994 election?
The African National Congress won 12,237,655 votes, 62.65 percent of valid ballots, and 252 of the 400 National Assembly seats. The new assembly elected Nelson Mandela president on 9 May 1994. He was sworn in on 10 May.
What was the turnout?
The figure usually quoted is 86.9 percent: 19,726,610 counted national ballots, against an approximate electorate of 22.7 million. There was no voters’ roll, so that percentage is an estimate. Another contemporary estimate put the number of eligible adults nearer 21.7 million.
Did people vote for a candidate?
No. Each voter chose a party on each of two ballots, one national and one provincial. Seats were filled from ranked party lists, in proportion to the vote.
What is Freedom Day?
27 April, the public holiday that marks the 1994 election. The interim constitution also came into force that day.
Who organised the election?
A temporary Independent Electoral Commission, chaired by Judge Johann Kriegler. The Electoral Commission of South Africa that exists now did not run the 1994 poll, and it says so in its own historical note.
Why do some books give a slightly different total?
The count was huge, late, and made without a roll. This site uses the published party totals that add up to 19,533,498 valid national votes, plus 193,112 spoilt ballots. A few secondary accounts differ by a few dozen papers. The party order and the seat totals do not change.
What does ZA94 mean?
ZA is the country code for South Africa. 94 is the year of the election. This site is an independent explainer at za94.com. It is not an official results archive.